Gardening Success

After I was diagnosed with cancer and while I was recuperating, I had some time to really think and reflect on my life. There were things I was not happy with, so I decided that part of my healing and part of my preventative medicine had to be about incorporating change in my lifestyle.

I noticed that in the last couple of years I had lost my way. I think my soul was a little like my garden. I had simply gotten too busy and too tired to take care of it. Weeds were growing up, what was once beautiful, purposeful creation lay hidden.

My resolutions included setting very strict boundaries with my job. I changed my cell phone number and created some structure for the way people contact me. Also, I get paid for 8 hours of work, so I now work 8 hours. That's harder than you think it is for me, especially when I see that I'm not getting my work done the way it needs to be done. I was reminded of the time when people were chastising Jesus for allowing someone to anoint him with oil because it was expensive and could have been used for the poor fund, and he replied, "the poor will always be among us." He was more interested in the relationship being created.

It's kind of the same with my job. I will always have crises and urgency in everything I do. I won't always have my family around me. They are growing and spreading their wings. I want to be their wind! I can't do that buried in my office.

I am already beginning to reap the benefits of living by my resolutions! My creativity - long lost in the sea of mind weeds - is beginning to flourish! I actually picked colors for my living room and dining room! I have been working at reclaiming my garden, too!

So yesterday, I started with 15 bags of cement and one roll of landscape fabric. My goal is to make a cobble stone path throughout my garden. It felt good YESTERDAY to lift all of these bags. Today, not so much. ;-)

My goal is to work a little at a time to reclaim my entire garden. I want to make it easier to keep up with, as well as show case some of the flowers I just adore.

Wet Cement!

A good start on the path! 

My Garden Reclamation Project

The waterfall and stream of my water garden. 

The only flower I've planted this year....yet.

Tiny Boxwoods that will grow to 4 foot! 

It's always nice to have a hunk like this clean up after me

Part of my water garden.


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One of my best days - ever

Today was one of those days that just makes you glad. The deep down, contented glad that comes from contentment, intimacy and fun. Terry and I had one of those days today. We woke leisurely, enjoyed coffee and the internet, and then great conversation. Then I worked in my garden transplanting flowers to new places. My garden is starting to look like someone loves it again! While I played, Terry did too - on his guitar.

We drove to Des Moines, picked up landscaping stuff, shopped a bit and grabbed a bite to eat. The whole time chatting and giggling. We found a garage sale and a solid oak table that is absolutely perfect as a little island for my kitchen. We even had to scrape the bottoms of our wallets to try to come up with the entire amount. We were short $1.25, so asked if she'd take less. I must have looked pathetic, because the owner joined in our laughter and giggling and I got the table. Terry even likes it! I've not had a place to house my pretty yellow pitcher, but today I do. I think I'll put some coneflowers in the pitcher to just top the cake!

Contentment, intimacy and fun. A great combination!

My Version of This Old House Part II

I am on a color roll!! Once the color worked for the living room, I decided to finish painting my kitchen with the reddish color (Dutch Boy's Brick Fleck). I worked on it throughout the day today. I think it looks a little orangey in the photos, but it looks more like a deep red. I had already painted one wall prior to surgery, and today I finished the south and west walls (very slowly of course). I'm very happy with it.

If I'm feeling up to it tomorrow, I will be working on finishing the cupboards. I want to steel wool the cabinets with mineral spirits and add another stain...to richen the effect. We'll see. I may have my friend and decorating guru help me. ;-) For the rest of today, though, I'm going to replace the outlets in the kitchen!! Finally!!

So far, here's what I've got. Excuse the mess, please.

I feel badly for Terry, though...he has hard jobs like putting in wainscot and leveling the floor so we can lay laminate down. ;-) I get to do the pretty stuff!

I think it's a good thing that I don't get HGTV out here. We'd really be in trouble!

Great Buys!

Last weekend, Alyssa and I were driving around town when we saw signs for an auction, so we decided to stop by. Are we ever glad we did! I bought several things, but my favorite is this orange beauty! I put it in my cheery yellow office/craft room/spare room. I certainly love auctions!!

I also found a pretty wing back chair that goes super well with brownish green walls in my entry way. No one in my family likes that chair though. What is it about my boys that makes them so picky?? Abe likes the glider rocker I found for his room, and we are all appreciating the SMALL entertainment center.

Alyssa found two really pretty white formal chairs, a table to go with them and SEVEN book shelves. Of course, they are all staying here awaiting her return home and prodding us to complete the room she will be living in. Right now all of her furniture is mixed with my own hodge podge of hand-me-down wonders, so we are certainly trying to complete our projects in the most ASAP way.

Terry assured me that this weekend will be the EPIC Floor Laying Weekend! I am beyond excited about that.

My Version of This Old House

We've been trying to finish up our house, and update what we've already done. It seems like a very long battle, actually! But today, I wanted to share what we've done recently...

Project Number One:

Phase One Covered Porch: When we moved in to this house, we had a screened in porch that we decided to close in and make part of the house. It was a good plan, but we lost a wonderful thing...a covered porch. Last week, Terry and my boys built a deck (phase one of our plan). Phase two will be to add a roof and railings to the deck. Then, whallah! An old fashioned porch. I'll even get a rocker to go out there.

It's absolutely lovely to sit there in the mornings and drink my coffee! Of course, when we get the roof on, we'll be able to sit under the roof and still be protected by the roof!! Won't that be awesome!

Project Number Two!

We bought some laminate flooring to lay down throughout the downstairs of the house. YAY! However, like almost all of our projects, we have a ton of work to do before we can lay the floor. We decided to go ahead and update the paint, get trim up, etc. etc.

Here's what my living room looked like before:

I loved the rich color of the burgundy, and I love folk art stuff, so the border was just my style. I decided that if we were going to be updating the downstairs, we should really make a go of it, and do it up well. So, I removed the wall border. (Yes, I heard you gasp.)

Next, I painstakingly tried to find a color that would suit us. After weeks of all kinds of paint samples lining the walls of my living room and kitchen, I decided that I would just use my wall border as my paint palette. Turned out to be a good idea, because I found the new color for my living room. Yay me!

Stay tuned for the complete project! I only hope that we get this done pronto. Those of you who know us are laughing. I can hear it!

Humbled & Dancing

Yesterday I had a nice visit with an former classmate, who happens to be my new oncologist. I really liked how he made eye contact while he was explaining things to me and while he was listening to me. I wish more doctors would take the time to do that!

What I found out is that I had a Stage 2a cancer, which is relatively good news. I was able to read the path report and ask questions. Turns out that the cancer went through the muscular wall of the colon and into the fat wall...it didn't go to the outside part of the colon - which is very good. The path report wrote that there were good margins and that there was no indication of it spreading.

I also found out that there is a 70% chance of surviving past 5 years with this stage. I guess that's providing I don't get hit by a bus. ;-)

The jury is still out as to if I will be taking chemo. I guess there is a lot of controversy about whether or not Stage 2a people should have chemo. Some doctors say yes, and some say no. What Dr. Brad suggested is that I participate in a study through which the cancer will be studied to determine whether or not there is a high risk of recurrence. If I am in that high risk group, I will take chemo. If I am not in the high risk group, I won't. I think that sounds like a good idea, so that's what I'm going to do. Plus, participating in this study will provide statistical data for treating people with colon cancer in the future. I like that idea, too.

After my sister was diagnosed with breast cancer, I have had my boobs squished regularly. I suppose getting roto-rootered regularly will now be added to my health care regimen. Lovely.

The Day After

Of all the things to think about, I've been thinking about this: I'm jealous that I won't have a cool, hippy slogan and mascot that defines me as a cancer survivor. Seriously. Breast cancer victims/survivors get pink ribbons, pretty bras and slogans like "Fight Like a Girl." Since I'm new to the colon cancer scene, I may be mistaken, but I know of no such slogans for me. I can think of plenty, but most are probably not 'clean' language. ;-)Do I even get a special remembrance ribbon? And if I do, will it be brown?? Such things to think about, but it does give you an idea of how my brain works.

On a more serious note, a few days ago, I read a blessing by St. Theresa:

May today there be peace within.

May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

May you use those gifts that you have received,

and pass on the love that has been given to you.

May you be content knowing you are a child of God.

Let this presence settle into your bones,

and allow your soul the freedom to sing,

dance, praise and love.

It is there for each and every one of us.

Such a beautiful blessing and so very relevant to me right now. I think the part that stands out the most to me is the prayer for me to trust God that I am where I am supposed to be right now. Such a prayer! If I am where I am supposed to be, then I am experiencing the life I am supposed to experience. I think there is so much good to be experienced, even when you are walking through a scary time. I sometimes need to remind myself to keep my eyes open.

Talking with Jeff, a new friend of mine, yesterday was so encouraging. He, of course, was sad about my news...but as we talked his eyes just shown. He said, "Think of all you get to learn!" Yes. Think of that! I may actually learn more than I have ever wanted to; I appreciate his wisdom.

All of that sounds great, and while I do want to experience the life that brings me closer to God, I've got to admit that I have all kinds of apprehension about what these lessons will entail. I love being in control, I love being independent and I love being strong. I think that some of the lessons I will learn may involve one or all three of these things that I hold dear. That's scary to me. Well, that and physical pain. ;-)